WHEEL VIGIL FOR 16 HOMELESS DEATHS AND CALL TO ACTION: Wednesday, February 14

With the “Pathways Home” City funding cuts that went into effect this year, the Seattle Survival Support network has been completely shredded. In January, some hygiene and day centers closed or slashed hours, some shelters changed models (and become less accessible), and shelters on six month “bridge” funding contracts (like SHARE and WHEEL) are doing MORE work with LESS funding and support, and the specter of full-defunding come July, or earlier.

The pain, suffering and fear in our community have never been greater, and now, the number of homeless deaths is higher than ever before.

From a completely and horribly unprecedented one-month list of homeless deaths from the King County Medical Examiners/Health Care for the Homeless (January 2018), Women in Black learned of SIXTEEN additional outdoor/violent homeless deaths that occurred last month.From noon to 1 PM Wednesday, February 14th, with very heavy hearts, we’ll stand vigil outside the Seattle Justice Center (5th/Cherry) to honor and remember:

**Identified man, died of multiple blunt force injuries on the roof of a 4th Ave bldg on 1/1.**Stanley Krebs, 64, died of natural causes in a vehicle (camping) in Sammammish on 1/2.**Scott Allerhand, 55, died in an alley off S Jackson on 1/2; cause pending.**Bradford Oling, 63, found injured (of blunt force injury) in Shelton; died at Harborview on 1/3.**Karim Suleman, 60, died by suicide in Bellevue on 1/4.**Joshua Werner, 27, shot in Edmonds and died at Harborview on 1/7.**Nathan Levere, 41, died at 1010 Boyleston (parking lot) on 1/8; cause pending.**Christopher Jewell, 56, died of natural causes at 501—2nd W (near Seattle Center) on 1/10.**Aaron Johnson, 31, died at Shilshole of multiple blunt force injuries (accident) on 1/14.**Kevin Browder, 28, died at 400 Broad (near Seattle Center) on 1/15; cause pending.**Alex Norton, 39, died at 6th S/S Bennett (Industrial Dist.) on 1/15; cause pending.**Claudia Gutierez, 16, died by suicide at Pike/Boren (pronounced dead at Harborview) on 1/15.**Justin Shoemacher, 37, died by suicide in the Great Northern Tunnel on 1/16.**Kenneth Brown, 65, died of natural causes near Alaskan Way S on 1/29**Andrew Caffroy, 32, died in Auburn on 1/30; cause pending.**Charles Wells, 56, died at Boren/Stewart on 1/21; cause pending.

These deaths and the survival service network cuts are unacceptable. JOIN US IN CRYING OUT FOR SHELTER & JUSTICE!At 6 PM next Monday, February 12th, the Seattle City Council Committee on Human Services, Equitable Development and Renter Rights, chaired by Council Member Sawant, will hold a Special Hearing at Seattle City Hall (5th/James St) on the Pathways Home funding cuts, with a special focus on their impact on homeless women.WHEEL will be at the table!This is an opportunity for all who are concerned about homeless deaths, who want real shelter and enough of it, an end to the pop-up encampment sweeps and unwavering new support for expanding affordable housing to have their voices heard.Please attend this hearing, and spread word to your networks.